We see two parallel studies, a little known ambassador named Dodd in Berlin and Adolf Hitler. By telling the stories of Ambassador Dodd and his family as he unfolds the history of Germany from 1933 to 1938 you see not only how bad the Nazis were but how people could close their eyes to it. The Dodds clearly had their eyes closed at first. The ambassador was often taken advantage of, as was Von Pappen, Hindenburg, Chamberland and virtually everyone who dealt with Hitler, Goering, Goebbels, Himmler and a cast of thousands of petty sadist who flocked to their banner or were corrupted by it.
Dodd's daughter Martha is an especially interesting character. Naive and worldly at the same time. She is in many ways a loathsome person of few morals, but she personally intercedes to save people from certain death by using her position as the ambassador's daughter.
In the end I agree that Dodd was a remarkably good man, and gave remarkably good service at a very difficult time. He certainly was better than his successor, or even the most celebrated ambassador of his age, Joseph Kennedy. He was a man of morals an honor who used his position in many remarkable ways. Unfortunately he was able to save individuals from death at the hands of the Nazis, not a nation. Nor was he able to awake the US upon his return to the horrors that were growing in Europe. Americans did not wan tot know.
Reading this gave me pause to think of our own time. Germany did not fall at once into the horrors of the Nazis. It came in steps. The slippery slope is alive and well in the USA. Freedom of religion is being turned to freedom from religion. People, including Senators, Representatives and Presidents of both parties quietly ignore the 4th amendment and allow the NSA to grossly overstep personal privacy while judges run wild overturning states' constitutions and voters' mandates on a daily basis. The 10th amendment seems to be forgotten or out of fashion.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars for history
3 out of 5 for a biography or personal interest piece. Dodd and his family are simply not that interesting. It is Hitler and his group that grab your attention. The Dodds just remind you that it was Germany, not the world that was falling into madness. The world just fell into denial.
20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Isaiah 5: 20-21
21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Isaiah 5: 20-21
